Question

The transverse nature of light is shown by
(A) interference of light
(B) refraction of light
(C) polarization of light
(D) dispersion of light

Answer 1

Hint : Transverse waves are waves which have the direction of propagation perpendicular to the wave vibrations. Sound waves travelling on the surface of the water are transverse waves because the vibrations are up and down whereas the wave propagation direction is forward.

Complete step by step answer
A light wave is an electromagnetic wave which travels through the vacuum of outer space and transparent materials like glass. Electromagnetic waves are transverse waves in the sense that the plane of the wave vibrations is different from the plane of wave propagation.
The electromagnetic waves in the true sense have the direction of propagation perpendicular to the direction of its electric and magnetic fields. In the case of polarized waves, the electric and magnetic fields are also at right angles to each other.
A light wave which is travelling in more than one plane is known as unpolarized light. The light emitted by the sun or an incandescent lamp is an unpolarized light. Polarized light waves are electromagnetic waves in which the vibrations occur in a single plane. Light can be polarized by transmission, reflection, refraction or scattering. Using a polaroid filter, different planes of vibration of polaroid filters can be blocked due to the special material used there.
Due to the polarization of light, it is evident that light is a transverse wave.
Hence option (C) is the correct answer.

Note
Longitudinal waves on the other hand travel through compression and rarefaction, so that their direction of motion is the same as the direction of wave vibrations. In sound waves, this phenomenon takes place when it moves through the air. Thus sound waves are longitudinal waves.